Upon entering the archway her eyes prickle with an intense itchiness from the myriad of lights in the druidic leylines, annoyed at herself for not remembering the sensation of entering the pathways will be as irritating as she remembers from her childhood, she begins casting a minor protection spell on her eyes. Afterwards she slowly begins opening her eyelids and letting her eyes adjust to the pathways and before her is the familiar pathways leading to the other archways across the world, connecting the seven divine forests with each other and also the four courts located inside the hidden forest of Tirnas. Walking along the pathways she notices a pair of squirrels running up a tree located alongside the path, giving the two animals a small wave of her hand Elaine smirks for a bit, but her mood sours when she notices three people standing at one of the many crossways in this realm.

“Fuck, its Tach and his two companions, they will pester me for looking like this and how dirty I am again.” Elaine swore to herself while looking at the three people ahead. The one in the middle was Tach, the person Elaine hated the most between the three of them. His short brown hair combed to one side combined with his light brown eyes and sharp eyebrows he was considered one the most talented boys among Elaine’s generation. The two people beside him where Téar and Sionn, siblings from another family of the same forest as Tach so they grew up together and have always been teasing Elaine since they were small.

“Oh, look guys! It’s the weirdo from Cymbal who only hangs out with the animals and her imaginary friend, hopefully she won’t scare the children with her looks, I mean look at her dishevelled clothes and hair.” Tach mockingly said to his friends, loudly enough for Elaine to hear his mocking tone towards her.

“I hope she leaves soon. Her stench reeks all the way here.” Sionn, the older of the two brothers joined Tach in their bullying of Elaine. Trying to suppress her frustration she lowers her head as she passes the group of delinquents and in a brisk pace head towards her destination, the archway leading to the Hall of Trees.

After several minutes of walking and trying to lower her appearance due to other druids and rangers staring at the hunching back of Elaine, she finally crosses the archway leading into her destination. Upon entering the grand hallways of their ancestral home she looked around for one of the realm walkers, famed guardians of the druidic leylines and the sacred forests, to guide her towards the location of the arch druids.

Walking around the large hallways she notices a sole realm walker patrolling the large pathways of the forest, walking up to him Elaine waves for his attention and he stops in his track.

"Excuse me realm walker, are the arch druids busy? I have urgent news regarding the Cymbal forest." Elaine hastily asked the guard.

"How urgent is it? The arch druids are currently busy with some news from Orhin forest about a disease along the river." The realm walker asked, annoyance in his tone due to being interrupted by a lowly druid.

"Its really important, the corrosion in the rivers that seemed insignificant months ago is beginning to run rampant among the wildlife and flora. Just on the way towards the leylines mass groups of animals where fleeing from the north." Elaine explained.

"Hmm. That indeed seems serious. Since you are the only witness to this corrosion in Cymbal forest you have to meet the other witnesses from Orhin forest and the arch druids can see if your stories match and if the courts have to send out rangers to scout the forests for the cause of the infection." The realm walker thought about the information Elaine gave him and the related problem with the other sacred forests.

He asks Elaine to follow him to join the arch druids and the other witnesses from Orhin, along the way Elaine's anxiousness begins to rise as she thinks she might be in trouble for the guard was silent the whole time since the left together. Looking to the side at the realm walkers face Elaine notices his sharp features, his strong jaw, thin eyebrows and clear emerald green eyes. His long dark brown hair kept together in a single ornate braid reaching down his back. Carrying an ornate curved blade and elven shield with silver lining along the edges his appearance and presence were imposing to the lone druid.

"Excuse me realm walker but what is your name? are you from the hidden forest or one of the sacred forests?" Elaine asked the guard with hesitance in her voice, afraid the guard would be angered by her questions.

"My name is Rhys, my family name is of no importance to you, and I'm originally from Folion forest." Rhys answered Elaine with a neutral tone, not bothered but not interested in getting to know each other.

Being happy the realm walker at least answered her question Elaine's mood brightened a bit, but her mood immediately soured when she saw Tach and the twins standing outside the entrance to the grove of knowledge where the arch druids generally meet.

"Well look at that, one of the realm walkers have found a gutter rat." Tach sneered at Elaine with the familiar mocking tone.

"Shut up Tach, don't you have somewhere else to be? Isn't your father looking for you as always?" Elaine said with a mischievous tone towards the boy.

Before Tach and the twins could retort her the realm walker named Rhys interrupts the two groups and informs that Elaine is requested by the arch druids.

Flipping of the trio Elaine follows two other guards towards the inner chambers where the leaders are situated, passing vibrant halls filled with blossoming gardens and orchards.

After what felt like an eternity the two guards stop before a large oak door chiseled in intricate details showing the history of the sacred forests and the creation of Tirnas by Yaris, the greater goddess of nature. Standing at either side of the large door the guard on the left stomp his spear down two times. Like a signal the large doors open up and before her Elaine can see the large table and before her, sitting around the table are the seven arch druids discussing with each other, barely noticing the figure of Elaine.

Looking around the large table Elaine can see the figures of arch druid Tamas from the Folion forest and arch druid Falas of Kembala forest. Beside these are the other representatives of the sacred forests, except the one in charge of Cymbal forest, arch druid Mara Nyve, the lost arch druid who got lost during a sacred rite twelve years ago.

Before the melancholy settled in Elaine's thoughts were interrupted by the announcement of her and the other witnesses arriving caught the attention of the council members and now Elaine was standing alongside the other witnesses before the greatest druids and rangers of her folk.

"Welcome, young druids and rangers, to the forest of Tirnas. We know the journey has been long for you but we have no time for rest. Please give us your names and the issues the sacred forests have." Arch druid Falas exclaimed with his powerful but sincere voice.

"My name is Olivia and my companions name is Femis, we are rangers from Orhin forest and three days ago large groups of animals were fleeing the eastern parts of the forests towards the mountainous regions in the north. We don't know the cause but after we followed the tracks from the herds we noticed large monuments dedicated to unknown beings located in the inner regions of the eastern part of the forest. We request immediate assistance from the ranger corps." The young looking ranger proclaimed to the council. Elaine took notice of their appearance, the female ranger called Olivia wore beautiful leather armor with stitching in the color of red and orange forming leaves across her chest and sides. Her medium long light brown hair neatly combed and braided into a crown on her head and light brown eyes stood out in comparison to Elaines features. Her companion, Femis, wore a similar outfit but instead of red and orange leaves his details were green flower petals across his entire chest, reaching up to his shoulders. Similar to his companion his hair was light brown but instead of being braided into a crown his hair was braided into a single braid reaching down to his shoulder blades.

"That seems troublesome, did you spot any acolytes or cultists near this monuments?" Arch druid Tamas asked.

"No, It was like these monuments erupted from out of nowhere. We haven't sighted any suspicious people in the forest as of late." Femis answered.

"Hmm. Alright, Arch druid Lesau, send three ranger companies to Orhin forest to reconnaissance the area. Alright, young druid, what news do you have for us?" Arch druid Tamas gave out orders and asked Elaine to introduce herself and her urgent news.

"Hello esteemed arch druids, my name is Elaine and I've news regarding a similar problem with Orhin forest in Cymbal forest. I have not encountered any monuments like the ones ranger Olivia and ranger Femis described but I have noticed similar activities with the wildlife from the northern parts of the forest. On the way here two fairies informed me of chaotic energies in the northern regions, It may be a similar case to Orhin forest." Elaine briefly explained the situation before returning to the solace of the large walls.

"Cymbal forest you say. That forest have been inactive since the disappearance of arch druid Nyve. Hmm. young druid, what is your last name?" Arch druid Lesau asked Elaine, curiosity in his eyes.

"My family name is Nyve, arch druid Mara Nyve is my mother." Elaine explained, sadness in her voice, remembering her mother.

"Im sorry to bring up bad memories young one, the disappearance of arch druid Nyve was a massive loss for the sacred forests. Since the Cymbal forest is not as active as Orhin forest we will send a ranger company to assist you in finding the cause of these anomalies." Lesau ordered, Elaine noticed a hint of sorrow from the arch druid with the mention of her mother.

With orders given out by the council Elaine and the two rangers were excused from the chambers and were led by the guards to the entrance of the building. Upon exiting the hall Elaine wanted to ask Olivia and Femis a few questions but as she turned to walk over towards the pair she noticed Tach and the twins approaching the two rangers.

"Hi Olivia, I hope your beauty was not stained by the small rat over there." Tach asked, mockery filled his tone as he gave Elaine a cold look.

"Nothing to worry about, the meeting only took a few minutes so I didn't get tainted by her smell." Olivia responded with a hint of ridicule in her voice.

Hearing what the other people say to each other Elaine hastily left the area and hid behind a broken down building located at the southern part of the big plaza.

"Why? Why are the mocking me? I haven't done anything to fuel their hate towards me." Elaine spoke to herself as silent tears flowed down her cheeks. She sat at the abandoned building for a few hours, but her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden explosion from the plaza she was at before.

Running towards the plaza before her a sea of flames raged across broken down buildings and the gardens formerly covered in vibrant colors now were burning intensely.

"What in Yaris locks is happening?!" Elaine shouted at the sight of dead bodies and ruined buildings.